More than 1.18 lakh Central government employees, retirees and eligible family members have opted for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) since it became operational, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The government has also clarified that there is no proposal to review or replace the pension framework at present.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on August 3, 2026, Sitharaman said 1,18,195 subscribers had enrolled under the scheme as of July 19, 2026.
According to the finance minister, the 1,18,195 subscribers include:
Newly recruited Central government employees.
Existing employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS).
Eligible retirees.
Legally wedded spouses of eligible deceased retirees.
The Unified Pension Scheme was notified on January 24, 2025, and became operational from April 1, 2025, as an option under the National Pension System. It aims to provide an assured monthly pension after retirement while retaining the contributory nature of the NPS.
The option to join UPS is available to:
Serving Central government employees covered under the NPS.
Employees who retired on or before March 31, 2025, after completing at least 10 years of regular service.
Legally wedded spouses of eligible deceased retirees.
The finance minister also noted that the government had extended the deadline to opt for UPS until November 30, 2025, following representations from employees and their associations.
The government has expanded the benefits available under the scheme since its launch.
UPS subscribers are eligible for:
Retirement gratuity and death gratuity under the Central Civil Services (Payment of Gratuity under National Pension System) Rules, 2021.
Benefits under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 or the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2023 in cases of death during service, invalidation or disablement.
The same tax benefits available under the National Pension System.
A one-time, one-way option to switch back to the National Pension System.
Responding to questions in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the government has not reviewed the implementation or performance of the Unified Pension Scheme as it has been in force only since April 1, 2025.
She also clarified that there is currently no proposal to modify or replace the Unified Pension Scheme, indicating that the Centre will continue with UPS as its assured pension option within the National Pension System framework.
The Unified Pension Scheme has crossed 1.18 lakh subscribers since its rollout, reflecting growing participation among eligible Central government employees and retirees. The government has also confirmed that there are no plans to review or replace the scheme at this stage.
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Published on: Aug 4, 2026, 11:34 AM IST
Rakesh Deshmukh
Rakesh Deshmukh is a financial content specialist with around 3 years of experience writing impactful content across equities, mutual funds, IPOs, and personal finance. At Angel One, he decodes real-time market trends and breaking news, helping investors and traders stay updated. He also helps investors make informed decisions by simplifying market fundamentals and technical analysis. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce.
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